From the Catholic World News:

A consultant to the Vatican has said Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has incurred the penalty of excommunication from the Catholic Church.

The consultant made his statement in a highly unusual letter to Marc Balestrieri, a Los Angeles canon lawyer who formally sued John Kerry in ecclesiastical court for heresy.

The whole article is here. For all the backstory, there’s DeFide.com.

Now then: will someone please leave a comment, with the proper retort to, “Well, I wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition!”

UPDATE: He isn’t either excommunicated, says Vatican guy.

Say, friend, are you, or are members of your family, actively killing the enemies of America and her allies? In an official military capacity, I mean? You are? Excellent.

And have you, personally, written poetry about your battles against the bad guys? You have? Marvellous, let’s have a look at your poem. Hmmm, let’s see… missin’ my lady, here in Ramadi,… depleted uranium, through Zarqawi’s cranium,… good use of imagery there… war ain’t pretty,… Sadr City,… capture Samarra,… a brighter tomorra. Yep, that’s a poem all right.

Do you want that poem set to music? Sung by a professional musician, recorded to a CD and mailed right to you or your loved ones? Talk to Carridine. He’ll do it for $9.11. Visit this here web page for the details.

Carridine’s offer is open to all American, UK, or Aussie military and their families, through Nov. 20.

(UPDATE: Hey, view the comments to see real lyrics to a Carridine song.)